How to Extend the Life of Your Garburator: What Not to Put Down the Drain
A garburator is one of those modern conveniences we don’t think about—until it stops working. For homeowners and property managers alike, a broken garburator usually means a clogged sink, unpleasant odors, and an emergency call to a handyman. The good news? With a little care and some know-how, you can extend the life of your garburator and avoid costly repairs.
At Silverfern Property Services, we’ve seen our fair share of garburator mishaps. The number one issue? People treating the unit like a second trash can. Your garburator is designed to handle small scraps of food, not everything that happens to be in the kitchen sink.
What NOT to Put in Your Garburator
Here’s a quick list of the top culprits:
Grease, oils, and fats – They might go down as liquid, but they solidify and coat your pipes, causing serious clogs.
Fibrous veggies – Celery, corn husks, asparagus, and onion skins can tangle the blades like string in a lawnmower.
Potato peels and rice – Starchy foods turn into a gluey paste that gums up the works.
Bones, pits, and shells – Your garburator isn’t built to crush hard materials, which can dull or break the blades.
Coffee grounds – They clump together and form a sludge that’s difficult to flush away.
Best Practices to Keep It Running Smoothly
Run cold water while grinding – Cold water helps keep grease solid so it can be chopped and flushed away instead of sticking.
Feed scraps slowly – Don’t overload the garburator; small amounts at a time keep the motor from straining.
Freshen it up – Grind a few citrus peels or ice cubes every so often to sharpen blades and keep odors at bay.
Keep it for scraps only – Think of your garburator as a helper, not a disposal system for every bit of food waste.
The Bottom Line
Your garburator is a hardworking tool, but it has limits. Treat it right, and it will quietly serve you for years. Ignore the rules, and you’ll likely face blockages, damage, or even full unit replacements.
At Silverfern Property Services, we help homeowners and property managers across the Lower Mainland with kitchen repairs, garburator replacements, and preventative maintenance. If your garburator is making unusual noises, draining slowly, or giving you grief, don’t wait until it quits—book a service call and we’ll get things running smoothly again.
📌 Related Read: Why Preventative Maintenance Should Be Part of Every Homeowner’s Budget